Fluorescent light fixture



April 5, 1949. w. T. MINTON FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1947 Fig.1

. I I I @-28 v Inventor Wyl ye T Minfon April 5, 1949. w, 0 2,466,463

FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE I 1'1 veutor W yl ye 7." Minion Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Wylye T. Minton, Point Pleasant, W. Va.

Application February 10, 1947, Serial No. 727,525

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to novel and improved illuminating devices adaptable to be used in many environments.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means for retaining conventional fluorescent lighting tubes in selected arranged positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for removably securing such essential elements as ballast units and starter units in an accessible location.

A further object of this invention is to provide concealed electrical current conductor means in a single compartment of a compartmented housmg.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electrical appliance which is readily dismantled or stripped of the elements which normally wear out first.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty shall become apparent to those skilled in the art in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational side view similar to that disclosed in Figure 1, however, parts being removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 3 and taken substantially on the line 4-4 thereof and in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 5 is a schematic showing of a wiring diagram forming part of the present electrical conductor system used in conjunction with the instant invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements in the views thereof.

Among the prime purposes of this invention is to provide a device which may be serviced both quickly and easily. Further, this invention includes the provision of certain structural arrangements whereby a person unskilled in the art of electricians skills might readily repair a fluorescent fixture when portions thereof are rendered inoperative.

A suitable housing is generally indicated by the reference number I0 and may be of any reasonable configuration. For illustration purposes a substantially rectangular shape is provided. The materials of construction of said housing may 2 e be electrically insulating and/or electrically conducting.

The housing discussed herein above is composed of two compartments [2 and I4. The latter compartment i4 is preferably made of a suitable insulating material and has a removable cover portion I '5 therein. Suitable securing means such as the screws I'B may be used for retaining said cover over said compartment. The second compartment I2 is formed by clipping a resilient channel member 20 in suitable slots 22 provided longitudinally of the lower portion 24 of said compartment M.

A plurality of electrical conductors 26 are provided in said compartment I4 and if so desired said conductors may be molded therein. Each of said conductors 26 has a friction plug 28 at the terminal portion thereof. It is noted from an inspection of Figures 3 and 5 that said plugs extend through the wall and base of the chamber l 4.

Now, as is well-known in the art, there are required ballast and starter units for the efiicient operation of fluorescent tube lighting. It is further understood that the said units 30 and 32 respectively usually wear out before other portions of a fluorescent tube lighting system.

In order to facilitate removal of the said worn units, prongs are provided on said units which are adapted to be received in the grappling or gripping plugs 28. It can be readily appreciated that the said units are frictionally secured to the terminal portions of the conductors 26 and may be removed by simply exerting a force in the proper direction. By this construction, the plate 20 may simply be removed and the defective unit removed and replaced. One method for determining which unit is defective is the well-known trial and error method. All that is required (by someone unskilled in the art) is to simply utilize a proven unit in each set of plugs until the unlit fluorescent tube lights.

It is noted from an inspection of Figure 3 that certain of said plugs terminate in the side Walls of said housing and are adapted to receive fluorescent tubes 34 therein. The usual prongs 36 are provided at the terminal portion of said tubes as is conventional.

A pair of leads 38 and 40 respectively are provided in a suitable position in said chamber l4, extend through the cover It and are adapted to be secured to a power outlet. It is noted that these two leads 38 and 40 respectively are the only conductors which extend through to the exterior of said housing It). Each plug 28 extends through the walls of the chamber H but terminates flush therewith.

For the specific wiring of the invention, reference is made to Figure 5. It is noted therein that the outlets or leads 38 and 40 respectively start a circuit which extends to ballast units 30 and starter units 32 as is conventional in the art. Since this is a conventional wiring system used in lights of this nature, no further description is deemed requisite.

While there has been described but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the instant invention, what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

A fixture comprising a housing of insulating material having side walls and a bottom, a closure cooperating with said bottom to form a compartment, means for detachably securing said closure to said housing, ballast and starter units .4 in said compartment, said housing having a transverse central axis, pairs of sockets in said walls,- one socket of each pair being positioned on each side of said central axis, conductors in said housing connecting each socket oi the pairs of sockets and said ballast and starter units, fluorescent tubes having plugs on opposite ends, the plugs being received in the pairs or sockets, each socket oi the pair being secured to the opposite ends of said tubes, said closure securing means including flanges on opposed substantially parallel marginal edges thereof, said housing having slots with said flanges frictionally retained therein, said tubes being arcuate and received entirely in sockets on a single side of the housing.

WYLYE I. MINI'ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,301,840 Yost Nov. 10, 1942 2,342,570 Biller Feb. 22, 1944 2,428,646 Boucher Oct. '7, 1947 

